Ductless Air Conditioning
A hybrid AC solution for some homes
Ductless air conditioning is an ideal solution for people tired of re-installing a window air conditioner every summer and who have no in-home infrastructure (ducts) for central air conditioning or heating. Ductless air conditioning is a happy medium between these two systems of air conditioning.
There are many other advantages to going ductless:
- These systems give you a form of central air without the need for ducts. Ductless AC is less expensive than central air, suitable for many homes, offices, computer rooms, and labs.
- No window space is lost.
- The design is clean and efficient.
- They are very quiet compared to smaller units.
- They have simple central controls, as you would have with central air conditioning or with a home heating system.
- These require a one-time installation that is also much easier than central air.
You might think of ductless air conditioning as essentially a hybrid of features you would find in a window unit and in central air. One further advantage to ductless systems is zone control. This allows you to regulate the temperature in various rooms and areas of your house. The system does not have to cool all areas of the house at the same rate, and you can close it off to some areas, all timed by a central controller. This particular aspect of hybridization makes it superior to both window AC and central air conditioning.
Ductless air conditioning manufacturers
A number of top air conditioning manufacturers specialize in ductless air conditioning, or duct-free split systems, as some companies call them. The indoor and outdoor components can be sold separately. Manufacturers who specialize in this field are Carrier, Friedrich, Lennox and Mitsubishi.
Disadvantages
The biggest disadvantage of ductless or split-system air conditioning is the cost. While these are relatively easy to install, the cost can be upwards of $2000 for 12,000 BTU of cooling capacity. This is actually nearly 50 percent more than some central air systems.
Cautions
As with all units, there are the issues of proper sizing and maximum energy efficiency. If you take care of energy efficiency first, you may even find that you do not need such a robust air conditioning unit.
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